The 11 players who participate in a cricket match receive well-deserved recognition when their team wins. Notwithstanding, a cricket team consists of more than just the players on the field. The coach plays a crucial role in influencing the players' performance. The coach is responsible for motivating the players, especially after a poor outing, and instilling positivity in them to bring out their best.
The coach is also tasked with designing the strategies and the plans for victory, while the captain is in charge of the on-field operations. Therefore, coaches need to possess not only a deep understanding of the game but also exceptional people management skills to keep the players focused and mentally prepared.
All these qualities make a coach an expert in their field and enable them to deliver the desired results for the team. Accordingly, coaches are compensated based on their expertise and the value they bring to the team's success.
1. Ravi Shastri
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the richest cricket governing body in the world. As a result, the head coach of the Indian national cricket team, Ravi Shastri, is the highest-paid coach globally.
In 2016, Shastri was in contention for the Indian head coach position, but Anil Kumble was ultimately appointed. However, Kumble's controversial resignation soon after paved the way for Shastri to get the job.
Despite being a subject of internet memes, Shastri has enjoyed success with the Indian team across all formats of the game internationally. Moving forward, his primary focus will be to deliver an ICC (International Cricket Council) trophy for India.
Ravi Shastri, one of the most influential cricket coaches, earns a substantial annual salary of between INR 9.5 to 10 crores (approximately $1.2 to $1.3 million USD).
2. Justin Langer, Australia
Justin Langer, a former Australian cricketer, was a prominent figure during a dominant era for Australian cricket. He formed an outstanding opening partnership with Matthew Hayden in Test matches, amassing 7,696 runs over the course of 105 Test appearances.
After the ball-tampering scandal in 2018, Langer took over as the team's coach from Darren Lehmann. He faced the challenge of rebuilding the team's confidence and morale.
Despite the work still needed to achieve more consistent performance, Langer has achieved some significant successes so far. These include winning an ODI series in India and retaining the Ashes in 2019. For his efforts, Langer receives an annual salary of $0.61 million from Cricket Australia.
3. Chris Silverwood, England
Chris Silverwood took over as England's head coach after the 2019 Ashes series, replacing Trevor Bayliss. So far, Silverwood has done a respectable job, maintaining England's dominance in white-ball cricket while producing mixed results in Test matches, including a series defeat against India.
Under Silverwood's leadership, England thoroughly outplayed South Africa. Yet, they suffered ODI series losses to India and Australia. Upcoming home and away Test series against India and Australia will be crucial for Silverwood's coaching career, as they will indicate the progress of the England team. Nonetheless, Silverwood earns an annual salary of £0.6 million from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
4. Mickey Arthur, Sri Lanka
Mickey Arthur is a highly experienced cricket coach, having worked with the national teams of South Africa, Australia, and Pakistan in the past. He joined the Sri Lankan coaching staff as a mentor and was later promoted to head coach.
Arthur's tenure with Sri Lanka has been a challenging one. The national team has struggled to find stability under his leadership. The team's recent tour of Bangladesh was unsuccessful, and the upcoming England tour is in jeopardy as the players have refused to sign new contracts due to a lack of transparency from the Sri Lankan cricket board.
Despite these difficulties, Mickey Arthur continues to earn a substantial annual salary of $0.46 million from the Sri Lankan Cricket Board. This comes after he delivered some impressive results for the Pakistan team at the 2019 World Cup before the Pakistan Cricket Board unexpectedly decided to replace him.
5. Misbah-Ul-Haq, Pakistan
Misbah-Ul-Haq, the current head coach and former batsman of the Pakistan national cricket team, has been the subject of significant attention lately. Former cricketers have accused him of adopting a conservative approach to the game. Misbah replaced Mickey Arthur as the Pakistan head coach after the 2019 World Cup, a decision that surprised many. Initially, the 46-year-old also served as the chief selector, but he resigned from that position after a few months.
While there have been some valid criticisms levelled against Misbah, the Pakistan team has performed reasonably well under his leadership. They have managed to beat South Africa both at home and away, as well as overcome Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Misbah understands that tougher challenges lie ahead, which he will need to confront and overcome.
As the head coach of the Pakistan national team, Misbah-Ul-Haq earns a substantial salary of INR 1.79 crores from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
6. Gary Stead, New Zealand
New Zealand has emerged as a dominant force in cricket in recent years, no longer seen as the underdog. Under the leadership of coach Gary Stead, they have performed exceptionally well in major ICC tournaments, reaching the finals of the 2019 World Cup and the World Test Championship.
The Kiwis now have a remarkable chance to defeat India and claim the ultimate prize in Test cricket. Their team is anchored by standout players like Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, and Tom Latham, while other key contributors like Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, BJ Watling, and Neil Wagner have also been crucial to their success.
While Stead, who earns a modest $0.25 million annually from the board, prefers to work out of the spotlight, his leadership has been instrumental in transforming New Zealand into a formidable cricketing nation on the global stage.
7. Russell Domingo, Bangladesh
Russell Domingo, a former South African cricketer, was named the head coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team in 2019, replacing Steve Rhodes. Domingo is one of the few individuals on this list with extensive coaching experience, having previously served as the coach for the South African national team as well. The former Proteas player is known for his excellent man-management skills and ability to motivate players.
While Bangladesh has made significant strides, challenging and defeating some prominent cricketing nations, they still require more discipline and consistency in their performances. Under the 46-year-old Domingo's leadership, Bangladesh has registered ODI series victories over West Indies and Sri Lanka at home. However, they have also experienced some major setbacks during this period.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) provides Domingo with an annual salary of INR 1.29 Crore (approximately 170,000 USD).
8. Mark Boucher, South Africa
Former South African wicket-keeper and batsman Mark Boucher was appointed as the head coach of the national cricket team in late 2019, taking over from Ottis Gibson. Boucher's time in charge has seen mixed results, as the South African team has largely underperformed during his tenure.
Boucher's tenure began with a home series defeat against England, where the Proteas lost the four-match Test series 3-1. This year, South Africa also lost both home and away series against Pakistan across all formats.
Now, the 44-year-old Boucher has the responsibility of moulding the group of promising players that South Africa has and instilling a sense of self-belief in them to help the team regain its past glory. As for his remuneration, Boucher is paid $0.15 million annually by Cricket South Africa for his role as the national team's head coach.
9. Phil Simmons, West Indies
West Indian coach Phil Simmons took over from Floyd Reiffer in 2019 and has performed reasonably well so far. While the West Indies team has yet to achieve high rankings, they have a number of talented and formidable players who have the potential to be world-class on their day. Key players like Kieron Pollard, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, Sheldon Cottrell, and Fabian Allen are seen as very promising cricketers.
Under Phil Simmons' leadership, the West Indies team challenged England in their home country last year and also beat Bangladesh and Sri Lanka earlier this year. Simmons, who earns $0.09 million from the Cricket West Indies (CWI) board, will now have his sights set on the upcoming high-profile visits from South Africa, Australia, and Pakistan starting on June 9th. Most importantly, the former Caribbean batsman will be focused on defending the West Indies' World T20 title later this year.
10. Lalchand Rajput, Zimbabwe
Lalchand Rajput took over as the head coach of the Zimbabwe national cricket team in 2018, replacing Heath Streak. Rajput had extensive coaching experience before this, having previously worked with the Indian national team. He served as the team manager during India's 2007 T20 World Cup campaign.
Despite Rajput's credentials, he has struggled to turn around Zimbabwe's fortunes. The team has been in a slump, failing to recapture the competitiveness they demonstrated in the 1990s when they were able to defeat the likes of India and South Africa.
In recent years, Zimbabwe has fallen behind, even failing to qualify for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. While there have been occasional promising performances, the team has lacked consistency.
As the head coach, Rajput earns an annual salary of $49,240 from the Zimbabwe Cricket Board. He faces a significant challenge in trying to revive the national team and restore their former glory.